Mistakes are part of the learning process and are indeed what it takes to improve and perform to the utmost. It is important to note that coaches also need to realize that mistakes are an essential part of the learning process. Players will make them, especially among the younger players who lack the experience. There are no perfect players out there (thinking so is irrational).

It is “OK” to strive for perfection (motivated thinking) but not healthy to expect perfection, representing more irrational thinking.

To assist in coping with mistakes, a formal mistake management coping routine can help. Athletes can use these routines to get back into the game mentally and not harp on mistakes. A mistake is in the past, and worrying about making more mistakes is uncontrollable.

Spend Time In The Present

The more time spent in the present and outside of one’s head, time is well spent. These coping routines can consist of pre-selected focus cue phrases, performance cues, deep breaths, mental imagery snapshots, or coping ABC’s routines. The first time I saw this presented was in Saul Miller’s book, Hockey Tough. Saul is a renowned mental skills trainer for many NHL hockey teams and is credited with using these ABC routines.

For the past 17 years, I have been fortunate to share these ABC routines with the Los Angeles Kings, Olympians, and elite university athlete clients. The ABC routine is a series of cues specifically designed to assist in focusing on the next play ahead rather than on the past play or worrying over the future.

Playing in the present is what a player can control. Using a routine such as this can bring essential information with them into it.

Routine Cues

• Specific offensive, defensive, or special team roles
• Positional responsibilities
• Simple technical cues

These cues are designed to get players “out of their heads” so their experience, training, and reactionary skills can come out.

Athletes do not have the luxury of being stuck in your head, beating yourself up over the error (missed shot on offense, let’s say), and casually shaking off the mistake. The play is usually ongoing. If the player is not 100% present, the team is now playing a player down, literally! After mistakes, players must transition quickly to what is happening and what their team needs, like their help on offense or defense. The ABC routine is here to help.

A generic example of an ABC routine consists of the “A,” the first thing you do after a missed play or error. The first thing a basketball player who just missed a shot would be the first one back on defense in a ready position. The second thing to do is what should be focused on next. The basketball player would have their head on a swivel and keeping the ball and player in his defensive zone in view. The third thing to do is keep the feet “active” (instead of stationary) and get those darn hands UP!

ABC Routine: Transition to Defensive Responsibilities

• A. Offensive/defensive responsibilities = be the first one back on defense in a ready position
• B. Positional demands = keep opponent and ball in clear view in “help” defensive scheme
• C. Technical cues = move the feet and have the hands UP to shut down passing lanes or challenge jumps

In this way, any player on offense who makes a mistake must immediately default to his ABC routine cues because the team needs all five players committed to defense. Suppose an error happens on the defensive end (missed assignment, rebound). In that case, the ABC routine should reflect specific cues to get them to transition immediately to their offensive responsibilities. Suppose anyone is slow or late in getting into the offensive scheme due to being too internal and thinking about their error. In that case, it is putting the offense in a tenuous position.

ABC Routine: Transition to Defensive Responsibilities

• A. Beat the ball down the floor
• B. Spread the defense first, then check the play and do your assignment
• C. On any shot, box out wherever you find yourself

In two additional cases below, these sample ABC routines are specific to the sport of football and for two different positions. Getting players into the habit of self-selecting the important cues for the upcoming play will assist them in achieving optimal focus, and confidence. Keeping what goes “in” the head is productive while “blocking out” distracting, potentially negative thoughts and negative self-dialogue.

Case Study 1

Offensive Lineman on the “next play” after getting beat and QB sacked

• A= Get “off” on the snap count
• B= “Strike, stick & finish” (footwork)
• C= Hit the drive block

Case Study 2

Wide Receiver after a dropped pass

A= Separation off the line – positive steps

B= Fake the outside route to freeze the DB

C= Use the “dip and rip” to get open

An essential step to this process is to have the players devise what works best for their ABC cues. Coaches should offer suggestions, but essentially, the player will have greater commitment and buy-in if the cues are self-selected. Have fun coming up with ABC routines to cope with errors and improves performance.

Portions of this article are adapted from Dr. V’s Mental Toughness Training for Soccer and Mental Toughness Training for Football, 2nd Edition (Coaches Choice Publishing).

Reference: Saul Miller, Hockey Tough (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics), 2016.